Anne Farringer is a long-time resident of San Antonio and a Sustaining Member of the Junior League of San Antonio, in which she had the pleasure of serving on the Board of Directors. She loves exploring the city's parks and cultural attractions with her husband Mike and her five-year-old daughter Emily. Anne works alongside her father at Americus Diamond, the jewelry store he founded thirty-seven years ago, and is responsible for the design of almost every piece of jewelry the company creates. Anne is a graduate of Tom C. Clark High School, The University of Texas at Austin, and the Gemological Institute of America.

1) Why have you decided to serve as a Trailblazer for the JLSA?

We found out I was pregnant with my daughter less than a month after the Sandy Hook school shooting, so my husband and I have not experienced a second of parenthood without being hyper aware (a.k.a. scared out of our minds) of the inadequate response by our country to the epidemic of childhood mental illness and gun violence. I salute the fearless members of Moms Demand Action who have moved the needle on the legislative front and I am so proud that the Junior League of San Antonio has committed to the battle on the community education front. I enthusiastically agreed to serve as a Trailblazer because I truly believe our efforts to give community members accurate guidance to recognize mental health issues in our children and a clear path to assist those in need of intervention will make our world a safer, happier place.

2) Who and/or what inspires you to pave a path in our community?

Someone once said that you should surround yourself with people that reflect who you want to be. I am fortunate that I have been able to do so with the women of the Junior League of San Antonio: those who have come before me, my contemporaries, and those who will come after me. I am constantly inspired by these very busy women who always raise their hands. When they see a need, they say, "Yes, I can do that," and don't just hope that someone else will take care of whatever problem is at hand. Whether it was opening the first free clinic in San Antonio, establishing the Sunshine Cottage School for the Deaf, tackling the literacy gap in our community, or now, taking on the epidemic of childhood mental illness, the members of the Junior League have said, "Yes." They are confident, competent, and empathetic, and I am proud to be counted among their ranks.

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